How to Reach PB App Developers?

[DennisD]

I have some ideas for improving the app (who doesn't), but cannot find a path to the PB app developers to offer my suggestions. I was on the PB chat yesterday and the guy kept telling me to go to the forums. I'm here, but this is not officially a part of Pit Boss so they aren't necessarily paying attention to such things here.
Does anyone know how to reach them?
Suggestion #1 - Programmed Time and Temp. Example. Start the grill at 180F and smoke for three hours, then boost the temp to 225F until probe reaches 200F, then send notice and then shut down the grill xx minutes later. Save this as a preferred smoke program with the ability to save (and name) several different profiles.
Suggestion #2 - Auger Jam Detection. This would likely require a change to the control board, but include some form of auger jam detection, such as a motor current sensor. If the auger motor current goes too high then stop the motor and reverse it for a couple of seconds to clear a jam and at the same time send an alarm notification. Then retry normal operation of the auger, but if the current is still too high then do not drive the motor and send an alarm that the auger is jammed. Driving the motor with the auger jammed will sheer the teeth on the gears. (Don't ask me how I know this.) It can also make the jam even tighter. It then would (should) also be a simple thing to include an Auger Clearing/Reversing function in the Setup menu of options.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is a smart cookie on these forums that has figured out how to do at least #1. Please share if you know how to do that, even if it means departing from the PB app and using an Arduino or a Raspberry Pi.
THANKS!!!

 

[Jimsmokes]

 

[DennisD]

Thanks for this information!!
The Recipe function looks like one of the very things I want, but it is not available on my PB1150PS3.

 

[primeone]

I'll shoot @PitbossGrillsDev an email and see if they are still the ones developing the app:

New Pitboss Grills App

Hello, As you probably already know PitBoss have been launching their new App for Android and iOS devices! I'm one of the app developer and I'd like to give you a quick list of issues/questions you might have and solutions/answers: I'm getting a lot of server errors or the app get stuck...

www.pitbossforum.com

 

[DennisD]

I just read through that long thread. Thank you for connecting me to it!

I REALLY HOPE you get a response from @PitbossGrillsDev, but honestly I doubt you will.

Curitiba is apparently in Brazil.

Assuming this is a dead link, what other connections can you recommend to reach anyone at Pit Boss? We need them active on this forum, especially for app support.

 

[primeone]

I agree, it would be great to have them on the forum! That's the only connection I have though

 

[Smokeyholler]

I agree, it would be great to have them on the forum! That's the only connection I have though

It would be a great idea but I doubt they have the sack to step into the light of day. It's pretty obvious they can't produce clean code for the app. The firmware, apparently outside of the wifi code, seems solid (the smoker cooks well) but the app code can't reliably interface with it.

With the large spectrum of "small glitches", some FW/App combos can be made to work, there seems to be an underlying revision problem in the firmware. You can't have solid software when the firmware is all over the board. Just look at the current controller firmware, mine does 5 deg increments and I seem to remember 10 and 25 deg increments being talked about here.

After all the research I did prior to landing here the burnin was my test. My comp came to temp and held. No need to update the firmware or connect it to the mothership. Across the decades I've been burned with being the beta tester of the "new" SW/FW in things.

I feel for all the folks with the app issues but if the last year is any indication it probably won't clear up miraculously antihero soon.